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Rockwall stays calm and cool, collects bi-district win over Rowlett

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John F. Rhodes/Special Contributor

Rowlett High players Bobby Casillas (16); Tanner Sonnenberg (1) and Nathan Kalldin (8) hold their heads after losing to Rockwall High 4-1 during an UIL bi-district baseball playoff game between Rockwall High and Rowlett High at the Wylie High Baseball Field in Wylie, TX on May 1, 2013. Rowlett was eliminated from the playoffs. (John F. Rhodes / Special Contributor)

WYLIE — Rockwall coach Jeff Payne didn’t relish having to play a one-game
series to open the Class 5A playoffs, but he wasn’t worried about his team
getting too tight before its Region II bi-district game against Rowlett.

“That’s been their thing all year; sometimes they’re too loose, and look like
they aren’t ready or into it, no energy and stuff like that,” Payne said. “It
works out in the playoffs when the pressure’s on, because they never look
nervous.”

Junior pitcher Carter Lilly exemplified that coolness, getting out of a
bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning with a ground out and strikeout, as
Rockwall advanced with a 4-1 win.

Lilly pitched a complete game, striking out 10 and allowing just five
hits.

“Not surprised a bit,” Payne said. “That’s what he’s done most of the
year.”

Rockwall (27-6), No. 9 in the final SportsDayHS rankings, will face the
winner of the three-game series between McKinney and Jesuit that begins
Thursday.

Rowlett (12-17-1) had only two runners reach second base against Lilly until
the seventh inning, when Lilly allowed a single, a walk and a hit-by-pitch to
the first four batters.

His final out was fitting, however, changing speeds to induce Rowlett’s Sean
Moore to strike out.

“My curve was tight tonight,” Lilly said. “It looked like it landed in the
strike zone every time I threw it.”

Lilly had the luxury of pitching with the lead for most of the game. Third
baseman Brad Barnett ripped an outside fastball to deep left field for a two-run
double in the second inning.

“When we got up 2-0, I didn’t think it was over, but I felt really, really
good about it,” Payne said.

Barnett, showing a lack of nerves and a wealth of bravado, was even more
certain after his hit.

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